Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-06-21


the COroner's Jury.
Yesterday morning. about 8 or 10
O'Clock, an alarm was sounded from the
Richmond hosting works. From. the con
tinued sound OF the whistle il was ap-
parent to those who heard ii from Eureka
that something Of unusual occurrence had
happened. r. X. Morrison, Superintend-
emit and Secretary Of the company, soon
learned that some men were hurt In the
mine, and lost no time in ordering out
the Richmond horse and buggy. Taking
DR.. Williams with him, they sped along
the road to the mine, there to find that
two men had lost their lives by as
phyxiation from gas generated from Her.
cules powder smoke. The report of the
accident, as it reached Eureka, was very
indefinite, and Hon. Thomas Wren, who
Ia the President and attorney Of the com.
pany. being very anxious to know TO the
full extent Of what had happened took a
team, and accompanied by q SENTINEL
reporter. went to the mine. On their
arrival there q number Of men, whose
countenances plainly foretokened that
something very dreadful had occurred, stood
assembled in front of the hosting works.
From them II was quickly learned that
two men named Augustus Sellberg and
Emanuel Borgeson, had met their death
in the following manner. A connection
was being made between the 100 and 200
levels Of the mine By an upraise from the
200 level and q winze from the 100 level.
Both of these openings had so nearly sp-
preached one to she other that it would
require but one more hole to make the
connection. Borgeson and Sellberg who
worked in the upraise, had put in a hole.
charged and fred it. What followed was
explained in the evidence given before the
Coroner's jury. No time was lost in 60
ing 10 the rescue, and the heroic bravery
OF the men who led the way was phenom-
email. No volumn Of praise can do justice
to them for their noble efforts in trying TO
save the lives of their fellow. workmen.
They were so badly effected by the gas
that several Of them came near falling
~lifeless victims to 1t. Lou Dunkle, first in
the lead of the survivors, was overpowered,
and became unconscious from the effects
| OF the gas, and was nearer dead than alive
when brought to the surface. Thomas
Hicks was overcome and fell from the up
| raise. q distance OF 20 feet, receiving o scalp
| wound and hurt In his left hip. When
| our reporter left the mine, Hicks was
| said to have been taken TO his home In a
worse condition than any Of the others.
| John Nicholas, Jr., was also hurt about
The head, and WAS reported as suffer.
| ing severely from the effects of the
gas. George Thomas fell down the up
raise In an insensible condition, receiving
q scalp wound and was otherwise badly in
injured. Frank Millovich took very des'
perate chances, and was said by the men
81 the mine to have been exceedingly
brave, He was badly effected by the gas,
and appeared crazy from it for awhile. bui
soon recovered and was ss lively as ever
and went about his business like q hero,
that be is. James Rourke was rendered
insensible. as wal also Thomas Csrdew
but no other injury befel them that oui
reporter could learn. Sam Longley, the
foreman, was brave and clesr-minded
about giving his orders; be, however. did
not escape the deadly gas. although ht
soon recovered from the effects Of 10. Mr.
Mcintosh, Charles Bradbury and James
Williams, Jr., were slightly effected by
poisonous gas, but were soon as active al
ever. The men from all parts Of the mine
iooked to the 200 level anxious to assist
and there were none on Ruby Hill wit
did not promptly respond to the sound o
alarm and hurry to the scene of distress
James Sweeney, Esq, Justice Of thu
Peace for Ruby Hill township. acting al
ex-oficio Coroner, convened q jury of sill
men, as follows: James Williams, Johr
Thomas. Patrick Dugan, Ole Bergman
Jacob Tearcoff and Peter Williams. TIL,
irst witness called was Charles Bradbury
who deposed as follows:
am q machinist; was working on toI
at the vise.bench. fixing burleighs; Mr.
Mcintosh came to the top Of the shaft
said there were three men in the raise and
thought two of them were dead. l wen
down with Tom Calaghan, Tom Hicks ant
George Thomas to try and save them. W
tried to get the men down, but powder
smoke was too strong for us. Hicks sai(
he stood all that he could; be was almos
gone. then jumped down to the bot
tom OF the raise, but got up again, as thu
smoke did moi effect me much; saw Hicki
and Thomas in the drift at the bottom
of the raise, but don't know how they go
down.
Stephen Wallace. the next witness
called, said: Mr.. Williams came over Il
the blacksmith shop and told me to conn
over, there was somebody hurt in tn
mine. / went down to the 200 level will
Mr.. Bradbury and there met Mr.. Quick
who said, go right along; there or
some men sick there;t try to get them out.
We passed Mr.. Hicks, who was out nea
the station; there met Mr.. Thomas, VIII
was sick. aud helped him out part Of tn
way. Then I helped out Mr.. Nicholas
The next one was Gus Sellberg; I fount
him at the bottom Of the raise, on tn
main 200 level. / brought him to th,
surface; then / returned and helped I,
bring Borgeson to the turn.table. TIL
men were exhausted and insensible at tn,
time they were brought out; could no
tell If they were dead or alive when the.
we're brought out.
Sam Longley testified: Borgeson an
Sellberg were working in the raise from
the 200 level. ] went there about 8 o'clocl